The annual Twin Cities ComiCon took place this Saturday on the crisp and cool morning of Oct. 8 in the education building on the state fairgrounds. Cosplayers of all shapes and sizes joined in the buying and selling of arts, crafts, graphic novels and, of course comics. Obviously the perusing of comics took centerstage, but there was also an alternative motive to the gathering of the hordes. It seemed that within the commotion of the sales and haggling a brotherhood formed between everyone there and that, not so much the comics mattered, but the spirit of the art behind them.

Nestled between the comic stands and cosplayers were booths where artists showcased their goods. Some artists showed off more original art that was aimed toward a more general audience, however there were those few artists whose pieces spoke to you and you could tell they really had a lot to say. Writer/illustrator Tim Arney-O’Neil was one such artist whose pieces showed the battle of light and dark.

“Every painting, picture and doodle has this point where it feels like you’re fighting the piece,” he explained. “That’s really what makes or breaks an artist, or even a person, their ability to push through that wall and make something amazing.”

When asked to describe his style he listed off words like, “grungy, ink washes, splatter, sometimes it’s more intuitive.”

Intuitive, if any word could be used to describe the marrying of light and dark in Arney-O’Neil’s work, that would be the one.

Another artist that showed some spunk was MarTeaniArt; her pieces were “inspired by nature and ghosts.” Although she has no particular belief in the supernatural, she finds it deeply fascinating.

“I’ve been coming to Cons for three [or] four years, it’s a great excuse to travel,” she smiled. “Working in comics is an isolated business most of the time and Cons are a great way to get out.”

That seemed to really be the thread that tied everyone together: the ability to come together and honor their favorite movies, books and TV series as well as to marvel at each other’s costumes and to celebrate their differences. Everyone here posed together for pictures, whether the Joker or the Penguin, Batman or Superman, Deadpool or Spider-man, everyone was there for the same reasons. Supposedly to make the world a better place, but more realistically to make our community a more open and colorful space.